Maluku Men Get 4 Years for Killing Journalist
Monday, 30 April, 2012 | 21:45 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Supreme Court convicted three defendants responsible for the death of SUN TV reporter Ridwan Salamun who were initially freed by the local court. But Maluku journalists are still unsatisfied. The defendants were summoned by the Prosecutor Office of Tual, Maluku, last week to serve their sentences but failed to show up. “We would serve them a second summon letter,” said Head of General Crime Section of the Prosecutor's Office, Jafet Ohelo.

Hasan Tamnge alias Jais, 28, Ibrahim Raharusun alias Ibrahim, 38, and Sahar Renuat alias Kribo, 22, were sentenced to 4 years in prison on January 5, 2012, by an appeal panel presided by Imam Harjadi with Salman Luthan and Mansur Kartayasa as members. In its verdict, the panel ruled that the three defendants were found guilty of violence against the 35 years old journalist causing the victim to die, although the victim was beaten by many people, not just the defendants. The judge said the defendants were also attacked first by the victim; the reason for lighter sentences.

Ridwan's wife, Nurfi Saudah Salamun, said she was not satisfied with the appeal ruling, which she considered too light for a crime that claimed someone's life. The government employee with the Ambon City Administration said she would coordinate with the family to fight for harsher punishment. “Before that, the verdict has to be executed before the convicts run away,” she said.

The appeal ruling annulled the not guilty verdict by the panel of judges of Tual state court early March. The panel viewed that Ridwan did not die from the beating of the defendants only. Many people blamed the prosecutor for using only the Article on violence, not murder, resulting in light sentence requests of 8 months in prison. The prosecutor also used the same Article in filing the appeal.

Ridwan, the father of one, died on 21 August last year on Jalan Balduadat, Fitmatan village, Tual, Maluku, with multiple wounds on his head, forehead and face presumably caused by a sharp weapon. His body also bore a number of bruises apparently caused by blunt objects and forensic results found that some of his teeth were missing. He was left lying on the street for two hours and he died on the way to Tual hospital. ****